UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Advocates for Closer EU Defence Ties Amid Geopolitical Shifts

Starmer Signals Renewed Push for European Defence Collaboration

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has indicated a clear intention to foster closer defence cooperation with Europe, emphasizing the need for the United Kingdom to work more collaboratively on military spending, capability, and overall security. Speaking during a recent visit to China, Starmer articulated his openness to exploring initiatives such as the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund, a European Union scheme designed to bolster member states' armaments through reduced-rate loans.

This renewed focus on European defence ties emerges ahead of upcoming trade discussions between the UK and the EU. Starmer's comments underscore a broader strategic shift, driven by concerns over the reliability of the United States under a potential Donald Trump presidency and the ongoing security implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Context and Previous Negotiations

The call for deeper defence links follows a period of complex post-Brexit relations. While a UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership was agreed upon in May 2025, laying a framework for cooperation across various areas including maritime security and hybrid threats, specific negotiations for the UK to join the EU's €150 billion (£130 billion) SAFE rearmament fund collapsed in November 2025.

The breakdown in talks was reportedly due to disagreements over the UK's entry fee, with the EU allegedly demanding around €2 billion, while the UK considered a contribution in the hundreds of millions more appropriate. Although France was initially cited as responsible for the high price, French officials have denied this. Despite the previous impasse, there is now understood to be a 'greater appetite on all sides' for a deal on the UK to join a future round of SAFE.

Upcoming Talks and Broader EU-UK Relations

The Prime Minister's statements precede a crucial meeting of the EU-UK Partnership Council, scheduled for the coming week. This meeting will see Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds engage with the EU's trade commissioner, Maroš Šefčovič, to discuss areas including trade, energy, and fisheries. While defence is not formally on the agenda for this specific council meeting, diplomatic sources suggest the UK is keen to restart negotiations on defence cooperation as soon as possible.

Starmer has previously stated that the UK should not limit itself to existing agreements with the EU, advocating for an 'iterative' relationship that seeks to 'go further'. He has, however, ruled out rejoining the customs union, stating it 'doesn't now serve our purpose very well', but is seeking deeper economic links with the single market. The Labour Party has also committed to increasing national security spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 and maintaining an 'unshakeable commitment' to NATO.

European Perspectives and Future Outlook

The European Union has shown a receptive, albeit cautious, stance. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is expected to emphasize the need for Europe and the UK to 'need a new way of working together on trade, customs, research, mobility and on security and defence'. Similarly, EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis has indicated the EU's 'open-minded' approach to discussing closer trade ties, while reiterating that full single market membership would necessitate adherence to the 'four freedoms'.

The push for enhanced defence cooperation reflects a growing recognition on both sides of the Channel that a collaborative approach is essential to address contemporary security challenges. The potential for UK involvement in schemes like SAFE could offer British companies opportunities for procurement contracts, thereby boosting the UK's defence industry.